Fly Fishing The Hoh River WashingtonThe Hoh River is located on the Olympic Peninsula. It begins at the Hoh Glacier on Mount Olympus and flows through the Olympic Mountains of the Olympic National Park and the Olympic National Forest. After exiting the forest, it flows through the foothills of a broad valley and into its final destination, the Pacific Ocean at the Hoh Indian Reservation. The scenery along the river is breathtaking and unusual. For example, the National Park section has some of the largest trees in the World. The river also passes through the Hoh Rain Forest.

There are three branches that make up the Hoh River. The North Fork, Tom and Glacier Creeks referred to as the Middle Fork, and the South Fork. The North Fork of the Hoh is fed by the Mt. Tom Glacier and the South Fork is fed by Humes Glacier. There are several other smaller tributaries along its route.

The large native winter steelhead the Hoh River is famous for are supplemented by hatchery planted fish by the state of Washington and the Hoh tribe. The hatchery fish begin to show in the river in November along with a few returning native steelhead. In late January the hatchery run starts to slow down and the large natives start to show in larger numbers. Although this is the prime time, Steelhead are in the Hoh River every month of the year. Most of the time there's enough water in the river to keep the steelhead on the move making it possible for one to catch a steelhead just about anytime of the year. .

By far the best method of fly fishing the Hoh River is to fish it from a drift boat. The Upper Hoh River has three boat ramps and three basic sections to drift. The first one is just inside the park; the next one at Morgan's Crossing; and the lower ramp is at the Oxbow Campground. There are also several places on the Upper Hoh River where you can wade or fish from the banks and catch steelhead and salmon.

Many anglers prefer to fish the Lower Hoh River and of course, they are the first ones to have a shot at the fish entering the river. It's wider and usually runs a little slower and smoother than the Upper Hoh. There are two boat launch areas on the Lower Hoh. The Cottonwood Camp launch area can be reached by Oil City Road. Farther downstream the Nolan Creek Bar can be reached from highway #101.

The Hoh River has a very large Silver Salmon run. The fish average about ten pounds with some going up to twenty. King Salmon enter the Hoh during the Fall. These large salmon can weight up to fifty pounds or more.

You may also want to consider fishing the South Fork of the Hoh River. It's a tributary stream that enters the Hoh River near the National Park boundary. It sees far, fewer anglers than the main stem of the Hoh. It's best described as small stream steelhead fly fishing.

Hoh River Fishing Report:11/22/13 Customer reporting hatchery steelhead beginning to show up in good numbers in lower river. Ordered our Perfect Fly Steelhead Green Sedge caddis larva fly. Hasn't caught any yet but say this fly worked great last year.

Fall:Salmon fishing starts about the second week of October when the river levels start rising from the fall rains. Steelhead fishing begins about mid November.Winter:January to April is the best winter steelhead fishing

Seasons:Be sure and check the current year regulations for seasons which are species specific.Spring:April continues the winter steelhead seasonSummer:Summertime is the least productive time of the year.

11/29/13 Fishing has improved. Lots of hatchery fish being caught according to our local contact.

12/12/13 Fishing is still very good in the lower river and improving upstream.

12/23/13 The river is still low but it has come up some within the last couple of days. It is flowing at 1830 cfs and 3.6 ft which is still below normal. Still only a few fish being caught.

Fishing Report Updated 05/24/19

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12/30/13 Talked to a customer ordering flies that fished the upper Hoh yesterday and did not catch a fish or see one caught.

01/11/14 Rain has very recently brought the stream levels up to 13,000 cfs and 8.11 foot which is high. This should help the fishing opportunities big time. Rain is in the forecast for the next several days.

01/18/14 The rain has improved the fishing big time and steelhead are being caught. We had fly orders this past week for our Perfect Fly Spey patterns and Comets and Buggers.

01/25/14 Stream is back down below normal at 1460 cfs and 3.09 feet. No reports from any customers.

02/01/14 The water has a little color on the upper river and lower has a lot of color. Lots of anglers were fishing and the results wasn't that good.

02/08/14 Snowing today and tomorrow then turning warmer and raining for the remaining of the week. Much better conditions expected in the near future. Remember, the Hoh takes longer than the other streams to clear up.

02/15/14 River is flowing at 3910 cfs and 4.57 feet which is high. Heavy rain is forecast for the next week so look for it to blow out for a few days.

02/22/14 The high water brought more wild fish in the river. The water is still a little off color and getting low fast. Much better conditions exist.

03/01/14 Right now the Hoh is in decent shape with good levels and more fish but there is rain in the forecast everyday for the coming week and the levels will be changing. .

03/08/14 Very high water exist with over 20,000 cfs and will be blown out for a while.

03/15/14 Conditions have improved. Stream flows are currently 3720 cfs at 5.48 ft. Those are good levels for fishing.

03/22/14 The river is back to near normal flows and steelhead are still being caught.

03/29/14 The river is a little high but rising. Currently it is at 3590 cfs and 4.41 ft. but there is rain in the forecast every day for the next week.

04/05/14 Fishing has been okay. Some spring Chinook are showing up.

Options For Selecting Flies:1. Email us (sales@perfectflystore.com)with the dates you will be fishing this stream and we will send you a list of our fly suggestions. Please allow up to 24 hours for a response.

2. Call us 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide which flies you need.

3. Email us (sales@perfectflystore.com)with a budget for flies and we will select them to match the budget and get them to you in time for your fly fishing trip.

All orders are shipped free in theU. S. Orders over $100 are shipped via Priority Mail.

04/12/14 Only three more days left in the fishing season.

04/26/14 Season closed. We will resume the reports in May.

05/17/14 Season reopens the first Saturday in June or June 7th. Check back with us then.

05/07/14 Season opens today. Be sure to check the flows.

06/14/14 No reports from anyone fishing. The river has good visibility and steelhead and trout can be caught.

06/21/14 No reports but good levels and clarity. No salmon fishing. Trout and steelhead can be caught but still no reports from any anglers fishing.

07/05/14 Low water and few anglers fishing. Let us hear from you.

07/26/14 Few fish are being caught. Conditions are expected to improve later in the summer.

08/10/14 Low water conditions is still hurting the fishing.

08/16/14 Cooler weather will help the situation some, but for all practical purposes the fishing opportunities are zip.

08/30/14 The water is still too low but great to wade. Some resident trout are being caught all the way into the park.

09/13/14 No reports for the past two weeks. Resident trout were being caught and probably still are but that's about it.

09/27/14 It won't be long before Fall Kings and Coho begin to enter the river. It is usually mid October but it all depends on the levels. .

10/11/14 Anglers are catching a few Coho and some steelhead but fishing is still slow due to low water. It is getting cooler, starting to rain and fishing should improve soon.

10/18/14 No reports from this past week. It is raining with more forecast.

10/25/14 Stream flows have been high and more rain is in the forecast.

11/08/14 A few coho and chinook are in the river. No steelhead yet.

12/03/14 This month steelhead fishing should get going but you have to pay close attention to the water levels. No action yet.

07/11/15 The river is largely ignored in July but the above species can be caught.

08/08/15 Not much of anything to report. Low water levels..

08/29/15 National park water closed to Oct 31. State water: Sea run cutts, some hatcherfy SH and some coho are being caught. Rain and cooler air temps should help.

09/05/15 Anglers are catching lots of sea-run cutts. There are some summer run SH and coho in the river as well. The rain really helped.

09/12/15 Remember the Nat. Park waters are closed to Oct. 31st. The state waters are open and anglers are catching lots of sea run cutts, and some summer run steelhead.

09/26/15 Anglers are doing good in the Hoh with lots of sea-run cutts being caught and some coho and steelhead. Give us a call or email for fly selection.

10/10/15 Sea-run cutthroat trout fishing is excellent with some very good number being caught. There are a few King and Coho salmon as well. The National Park waters open at the end of this month. Salmon Flies

10/24/15 Low, clear water continues to hurt the fly fishing opportunities. Few fish are in the river and what is there are spooky. There is a chance of rain every day for the next week and maybe conditions will improve soon.

10/31/15 Water levels were up after some good rains and a few Coho were caught but they are on the way back down.

11/07/15 They are catching a few coho, kings and sea-run cutthroat is good. Rain on the way.

11/14/15 The river has been way up and off color but falling fast. There is more rain forecast but right now, conditions are good.

11/28/15 The stream levels have been high and the water off color but back down to near normal. You might catch a coho. No steelhead spotted or caught yet.

12/05/15 Still no hatchery fish caught but it should happen very soon. High water now and it will be getting higher with all the rain forecast.

12/26/15 As I'm sure you know, the rain has continued to fall for the last three weeks. High water levels eliminated the fishing but the river is down to almost a normal level. Many of the hatchery fish have probably returned. Let us hear from you.

01/09/16 There are a few hatchery fish and some wild steelhead being caught mostly in the upper Hoh. The flows are a little below normal now and nymphs is working best. Perfect Fly Steelhead patterns.

01/23/16 There has been very few steelehead caught the last couple of weeks due mostly to stream levels and flows. It is at 10,000 cfs now but falling. You will just have to watch the level.

01/30/16 The river is just now getting back down from almost flood stage but in decent shape now. Fish are scattered from top to bottom.

02/06/16 The Hoh has 6100cfs flows and heading up. The water is fairly clear but swift.

02/16/16 The river got down to about 4000 cfs three days ago but now back up to 6450 cfs. It is best around 2000-2500.

02/27/16 The river has just recently got back down to a normal level and clear enough to fish. Fishing was good yesterday. Swinging flies is working best. - Our Spey patterns are working.

03/12/16 The river is still flowing at 6180 cfs and normal is about 2230, so it is still very high and raining. Fishing will be good when if falls down.

03/26/16 The river is down to 3330 cfs, much better but still high. Some Steelehead are being caught mostly in the upper Hoh.

04/02/16 Good numbers of steelhead are being caught in the upper and lower Hoh. Good conditions exit right now.

04/15/16 Season closed today, the 15th.

05/28/16 Spring Chinook are being caught in low numbers.

06/11/16 The heat from the past week has the water cloudy but it should start clearing up fast this week. Right now, there is little opportunity.

07/02/16 The Hoh is closed for the summer due to low numbers of Chinook.

08/06/16 Closed until September 1st.

08/20/16 Just a little over a week until the season opens. Now is the time to make your plans. Send us an email.sales@perfectflystore.com

09/10/16 Coho are throughout the system. Summer Steelhead are starting to show. The water is low and needs to come up.

11/12/16 There are a few coho in the river. Steelhead should start coming in anytime now.

11/26/16 There are steelhead coming into the river. Flow are 6450 cfs but falling.

12/24/16 The river is flowing about 3000 cfs, or just a little above normal and steelhead are coming in. We haven't received any reports this week but should be getting some. Swinging and nymphing should be best.

01/14/17 The flows are at 1400 cfs. We haven't received any reports of steelhead caught yet. They should start coming in before the month is over and get going good in February.

01/28/17 The river is still on the drop and getting better. A few wild steelhead are in the river and it should get much better very soon.

02/04/17 A decent number of steelhead were caught last week. Stream levels are a little high but still okay. Fish the lower and/or upper river.

02/11/17 The water is still high but falling fast. As soon as it is down a little more fish from Morgans Crossing to Cottonwood Campground.

02/18/17 The stream levels are falling and back down okay for boat but not yet low enough to wade. Swinging flies should work good.

02/25/17 The stream levels are down to a normal level and in good shape in the upper and lower sections. Swinging, nymphing and egg flies are working.

03/04/17 03/04/17 The flows are at 3590 cfs at 4.12 ft. at the Forks. Steelhead are being caught.

03/18/17 There are some good steelhead being caught lately. It isn't what most hope for but the fish are there.

04/01/17 Stream levels are in better shape and good numbers of steelhead being caught mostly swinging.

04/15/17 The river is closed to fishing as of today, the 15th of April.

07/01/17 Trout are being caught inside the park. Remember, barbless hooks but okay to bend the barbs down. The lower river season opens today.

08/05/17 There a some reports of good sea-run cutts being caught.

09/09/17 There are steelhead and sea-run cutts in the river in good numbers. It will be better when it starts raining.

09/23/17 There are steelhead, some salmon and sea-run cutts in the river and being caught by our customers in fairly good numbers.

10/07/17 Fish from the Oxbow downstream. Good numbers of coho are being caught along with a few steelhead.

10/21/17 Good numbers of Coho and some Chinook were being caught by fly anglers in the lower river. It was closed on the 16th due to low water. Stream levels are a little high now.

10/29/17 The river reopened after being closed due to low water. Stream levels are us and Coho and Chinook are being caught.

11/13/17 The stream flows are 8550 cfs, or blown-out. Fishing will be good when it drops.

11/27/17 There are coho in good numbers in the river. The stream levels are down to just a little high.

12/11/17 The stream levels are a little low flowing at 1300 cfs at 3.07 ft. Steelhead nymphs and eggs are working better than swinging.

12/18/17 Stream levels are on the way up and good numbers of hatchery steelhead being caught.

01/15/18 Hatchery steelhead are beng caught. Stream levels are down to normal.

02/26/18 The upper Hoh is turning out some steelhead. Nymphs and eggs are working best.

04/02/18 Sorry for the missed reports. Steelhead are still being caught and released in good numbers in both the lower and upper rivers..

04/09/18 Stream levels are high and the water stained. It is falling and should get better.

09/04/18 The stream is running very low. Fish River Park on the Quillayute. We will be making regular postings to report.

10/15/18 Sea run cutts are being caught. Coho and Steelhead are not showing up until the rains begin and water levels rise. Send us an email for a list of flies.sales@perfectflystore.com

12/15/18 There are some wild steelhead beginning to show up. Stream levels are high right now. Fish it when they drop.

12/29/18 There are some hatchery steelhead still being caught. A few wild ones have been reported.

01/13/19 There are still plenty of hatchery steelhead in the river.

01/27/19 The river has been high but back down to normal levels and in good shape. This should be a good week.

02/10/19 The flows are at 1460 cfs, or a little low. Decent numbers of wild steelhead are being caught.

02/17/19 Fish Cottonwood or Oxbow to G and L. Steelhead are being caught but they are a little sluggish. Steelhead nymphs are the best flies to be using.

03/12/19 Both the upper and lower are turning out good numbers of fish. This coming week should be great with the warming weather and water. Use lIght & long leaders.

94/07/19 Both the lower and the upper Hoh are turning out some decent numbers of wild steelhead caught and released.